When they can be bothered, our cats speak to us. 

What we don't often understand is that our cats are telling us many things through their body language, meows and expressions! 

Meows aren't their primary way of communication

While cats actually communicate with one another by scent, hissing, caterwauls and chattering, it has been found that meows are all about communicating with us.

 In fact, John Bradshaw, a University of Bristol anthrozoologist and author of Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, says people think of meowing as essential cat behavior, “But it’s something they’ve learned to do to get our attention. It’s really something they’ve adopted as a way of communicating with humans.”

The reason cats meow is because it gets you to do what it wants :) It's not as sinister as it sounds though. Your cat depends on you, so they quickly learn what type of meow and body language can grab your attention best. The meow can mean many things then, like asking for food, a pet, or be let outside for example. 

Purring doesn't mean they're feeling Purrfect

Sharon Cromwell-Davis — a professor of veterinary behavior at the University of Georgia said that purring doesn't always mean that your cat is content. It can also mean that they are sick, injured or scared. 

But there's no need to be worried all the time, they purr when they're happy too :) 

Rubbing up against you isn't always a request

Rubbing up against you may also be a way to express that you're very welcome to stick around and they're happy to see you. 

If you were away all day at work or school, take it as a sign that they've really missed you. 

Giving you eye Signals 

The slow blink by your cat may not mean that they're sleepy, but that they're comfortable with you and trust you. So next time you're on the couch with your cat and they slow blink, don't take them to their bed, but keep enjoying the time you spend together. 

Tails up! 

We can learn a lot from the tail of our cats. They're not just for balance, but for telling us their mood. 

When their tail is vertical and straight, they're very likely to be in a good mood. And if the tip of their tail is slightly bent, it can mean they're in a very good mood. 

But watch out if the straight up tail is bristled! It means your cat feels threatened and their back will most likely be arched too. 

And that's it for today! Hope this list of ways that your cat speaks to you helps the relationship between you and your cat. If your cat has any behaviours that you are just in love with, feel free to share them on our Facebook page. We'd love to hear about them! 

Information Source: Science of us

The Facts

If humans are supposed to drink 8 cups of water everyday for our health, it isn't very surprising to hear that it's just as important for dogs. 

In fact, 80% of the dog and cat body is made of water!

This is a huge difference compared to humans that are made of 60% water. 

We can see why making sure our pet is drinking enough water is very important. 

As a rule of thumb, we can consider that for every kilo our dog weighs, they need 65mls of water. 

So, for example, a chihuahua that weighs 1.5kg would need 195mls of water a day. 

Or, an average German Shepherd male that weighs 35kg would need 2.3 litres a day.

What Happens?

If your dog or cat does not get enough water, it can lead to some serious health issues.

This is because water is what helps your pet function. Here are some ways it helps: 

- Water carries, moves and helps absorb important nutrients around the body.

- Water helps digestion, the brain, lungs, muscles and assists the blood flow through the veins. 

- Water flushes out toxins. If the water is not flushing out toxins, guess where the toxins go. They stay inside your pet. 

- Water also regulates your pets' body temperature. So when you see your dog panting, it is definitely time to get some water! 

- Without adequate water, in bad cases, organs can be damaged, and if for a long enough period, they will begin to shut down. 

We hope you remember to keep your pets bowl always full of fresh water, but also remember to keep your cup full too! 

Have you found any ways to make drinking water for yourself or your pet easier?

Let us know on our Facebook page and the good advice will be posted up and mentioned for the great advice! 

You can also find our range of dog bowls & cat bowls here :) 

Information Source : Pet MD and My Brown Newfies.

Share your food with your dog? 

It is always tempting to share what we're eating with our dogs isn't it? 

We want them to taste and enjoy what we are, but it's essential that we know what is a good treat for or a poisonous one for our dogs. 

We hope you enjoy the infographic Vet Medic have put together :) 

Information source: Vet Medic

It's that chilly time of the year and while we're always able to get rugged up, we've found 7 ways you can keep your pet warm too this winter!

1. A Hot Water Bottle goes a long way

To keep your pet comfortable and warm at night, a hot water bottle is a great idea. 

Keep in mind not to use water that is too hot just in case they chew through the container and end up burning themselves. A simple and cheap option is a plastic soft drink bottle filled with warm tap water covered with a towel, thick sock or a sleeve of an old woolen jumper work well. 

2. Warmed up rice packs

Another alternative is to fill up an old thick sock with rice. Heat the sock with rice in the microwave for a minute or two. Tie up the sock and it should be good to go! Another good thing about this option is the fact that even if your pet eats the rice they are safe. Remember that the sock must be thick in order to prevent burns. 

3. Vet Check

It is a good time to take your pet to the vet for a check up. This is especially true for the older pets that can find winter tough on their joints. Arthritis is a common cause for difficulty in pets during winter. Warmth is a great way to help ease their pain, but remember that medication plays a vital role in treating their arthritis. 

4. Location, location, location. 

If your pet's kennel is outside, they will need a warm one. A wooden kennel with an elevated floor is ideal. Placing thick bedding in the kennel for extra warmth is also a great idea. You can purchase rubber matting pieces from Bunnings here. 

5. A Good Bed

Winter is also a good time to consider replacing the worn out bed and blanket for your bed. Beds can come in many shapes and sizes. Check out our beds for dogs and cats for some ideas. 

6. Exercise 

Exercise is one of the best ways to warm up not only yourself but your pet also. You can see our walking collection for outdoor ventures and dog toys and cat toys for indoor exercise.   

7. A Good Coat goes a long way

Finally. a good coat can go a long way in ensuring that your pet stays warm all the time. Check out our dog clothing collection to see what look and warmth is available for your dog.  

Children who are facing adversity, such as illness or parents splitting up, are more likely to confide in their pet than brothers or sisters, according to research.

Matt Cassels at Cambridge University says far too little attention has been paid to the significant role of pets in young people's emotions. "They may feel that their pets are not judging them," said Mr Cassels.His research is based on a 10-year study of 100 families in the UK. Mr Cassels, a postgraduate psychiatry researcher, says that the place of pets in the lives of young people has not been adequately recognised and the scale of its importance has been underestimated.

Emotional support

Family break-ups mean that in the United States children are more likely to live with a pet than their natural father, says the research.
According to US data, about two-thirds of children live with their father while about four in five of families with school-age children have a pet.
Mr Cassels examined data from a longitudinal study carried out by the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University, which tracked children from the age of two.
The information on pet ownership was based on when children were aged 12.

"The data on pet relationships stood out, as it had never occurred to me to consider looking at pet relationships, although I had studied children's other relationships," says Mr Cassels.
He suggests that people have associated pets with children's play and have not approached it in terms of a relationship.
Mr Cassels says the research shows that children facing emotional difficulties, such as "bereavement, divorce, instability and illness" place a particular importance on their pets.
"These children not only turn to their pets for support when faced with adversity, they do so even more than they turn to their siblings.
"This is even though they know their pets don't actually understand what they are saying," he adds.

Pets are best

The research suggests that children were also likely to have a stronger relationship with their pets than their peers.
Such relationships, particularly when it was girls with pet dogs, encouraged more social behaviour, such as "helping, sharing, and co-operating".
There was a therapeutic side to this relationship, he suggested, with the pets playing the role of the listener and being more "empathetic" for children than writing problems into a diary.
The study, he said, showed that it was "valid to talk about child pet relationships in the same way we talk about sibling relationships".
Furthermore, it was not an example of anthropomorphism, where human characteristics are attributed to animals, says Mr Cassels, a Canadian studying at Cambridge on a scholarship funded by the Gates Foundation.
Despite pets being so common in families with children, Mr Cassels says there has been a lack of evaluation for "how important they are to us".

Information Source: BBC

Need more reasons to own a dog? We thought so too. 

1. Mood booster

Dog  owners are known to have lower rates of depression. This is because dogs offer a constant presence, unconditional love and distraction.They allow us to focus on something else when things are tough.

2. Strengthening Kids Immune Systems

A recent study suggests that children who grow up with dogs actually have stronger immune systems and assist in treating asthma and allergies.

3. Good Health

Studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have found that dog owners have lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and blood pressure.

4. Sit Back and Talk to me...

Dogs are great listeners. They may not verbally give you specific advice, but they will stay by your side and never judge you. They offer unconditional support and affection, no matter what you are going through. 

5. Body Guard

Dogs are natural protectors of their families. They alert you to intruders, fire and other dangers. But most of all they want to protect you. 

6. Staying Active 

Dogs make us head outdoors, explore and have fun. Dog owners are more likely to get 30 minutes of exercise a day that lowers risk for heart disease. 

Information Source: 3milliondogs.com

The team from K9instinct shared a terrific way to make the KONG become a frozen treat that will have your dog chewing and chewing on this long-lasting snack! 

Quick reminder that these delicious snacks aren't for everyday consumption. So please feed in moderation and take them out for exercise daily! 

For all of the following recipes, all you need to do is mix everything together, fill the KONG toy with the mixture and freeze it. Some ingredients require cooking, but most of these recipes can utilize raw ingredients which is better for their health.

Blueberry Yoghurt

1 cup of plain, unsweetened yoghurt.

1 handful of fresh or frozen blueberries.

Sweet Potato, Turkey and Liver Bites

2 small jars of turkey and sweet potato baby food.

1 cup of plain unsweetened yoghurt.

1 handful of beef liver treats.

Cheesy Potato Pie

1 cup of boiled white potato, chopped into small cubes.

1/2 cup of shredded cheese.

1/2 cup of plain cottage cheese.

Peanut Butter and Cheese

1 cup of cottage cheese.

1 cup of organic crunchy peanut butter.

1 teaspoon of raw, local honey.

Coconut and Banana

1 cup of mashed bananas.

2 tablespoons of virgin, unrefined coconut oil.

1 cup of plain, unsweetened yoghurt.

Peanut Butter Yoghurt Bites

1 cup of crunchy organic peanut butter.

1 cup of plain unsweetened yoghurt.

Small handful of dehydrated liver treats.

Cookie Crunch

1 cup of plain, unsweetened yoghurt.

1 cup of plain cottage cheese.

1 large handful of your dog's favourite cookies.

Enjoy! 

Information Source: K9 Instinct

We all love to take our dogs out to the beach, but it's always handy to know which beaches allow us to take our best friends out to enjoy the beach too!

NSW

Silver Beach, Kurnell 

Dogs Allowed Time: 24 hours a day off-leash, all week, between the third and fourth jetty. 

There is also a coffee shop nearby :) 

Clontarf Reserve, Clontarf

Dogs Allowed Time: 10am-6pm on-leash on weekends, school holidays and public holidays. 

There is a children's playground, BBQ grills, table seating and a great place for families. 

Greenhills Beach, Cronulla

Dogs Allowed Time: 4pm-10am off-leash daily. 

There is parking nearby. 

Yarranabbe Park, Darling Point 

Dogs Allowed Time: All times off-leash. 

There are stunning views of the city and the harbour bridge. 

Sirius Cove, Mosman 

Dogs Allowed Time: all day Monday to Friday, before 9am and after 4pm on weekends and public holidays. Off-leash.

Parking close by. 

VIC

Sandridge Beach, Melbourne

 Dogs Allowed Time: All times off-leash between the groyne (jetty-like rock formation) opposite Barak road and the groyne opposite Cumberland Road. 

There is a BBQ, playground and a great view of Port Philip Bay. 

Brighton Beach, Brighton 

Dogs Allowed Time: 1April - 31 October off-leash. 

The iconic bathing boxes. 

QLD

Palm Beach, Gold Coast

Dogs Allowed Time: all day on-leash, a 3km stretch of sand at the southern end of the beach is off-leash. 

Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast

Dogs Allowed Time: all-year round off-leash on a 1km stretch of beach at the northern end of Coolum Beach Holiday Park and extends up to Stumers Creek beach access 67 to 72. 

There are pet-friendly accommodation spots in the town :).

WA

North Floreat Beach, City Beach

Dogs Allowed Time: All year round on-leash. 

Dog Beach, Hillarys

You can't go wrong with a name like this! 

Dogs Allowed Time: after midday Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday off-leash. 

TAS

Tyndall Beach, Bonnet Hill 

Dogs Allowed Time: All year round off-leash. 

Dog refuse bins and bags on-site. 

SA

Henley Beach, Henley Beach

Dogs Allowed Time: During daylight savings, 10am-8pm on-leash. Other times, all times off-leash. 

Great cafes and food! 

Information Source: http://bit.ly/1C5PLju 

Dogs love to eat, that's why when we see a meal that isn't finished or hardly touched, it can raise our concerns. Many, many problems can cause dogs to not touch their food — some are trivial but others are potentially life-threatening.

Knowing if we need to take immediate action or do some watchful waiting can prevent your dog from suffering and unnecessary vet expenses. 

1. Look back at the past few days

Think back at the past few days and see if you can remember if something has occurred that might be responsible for your dog's lost desire to eat. Some examples can be: 

- a change in diet

- an overturned bin 

- changed environment

- have you noticed any other symptoms that may be related? 

Make a note of when your dog first showed symptoms and if they're not looking/ feeling too well after 24-48 hours, calling a vet is probably the right thing to do.

2. Ask the other people that look after the dog about possible causes 

You may not be the only person to look after the dog, so ask others who have taken care of the dog about any possible causes.For example: 

- eating something strange during a walk

- they were sick when they were around the dog

- interacted with some other dogs

3. Examine your dog

You can perform a short physical exam on your dog to help see if there is a problem.

- Gently press your dogs belly. It should be soft and your dog should not react in pain.

- Look for evidence of diarrhea in the fur around the rectum or vomit around the mouth. 

- Their gums should be pink (unless pigmented) and moist. 

- Dry or pale mucous membranes can be a symptom of dehydration and/or other serious conditions. 

If you find anything worrisome as you examine your dog, please call your vet immediately. 

4. Inspect the food

Remember that when you feed a commercially prepared or homemade diet, there may be something wrong with the food itself. This is especially true if your dog has just been fed their first meal of the new batch of food. Check if the food looks or smells "off," if so, try feeding your dog again a different lot of food. Making a diet change at this point is not recommended since it will be difficult to determine if your dog is not eating because they do not like the new food or is unwell.

5. When in doubt, call your vet

It's always better to be cautious than have a bigger problem later that is more serious.

Dr. Jennifer Coates

Information Source:  Petmd